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I think giving fake reasons, which is just systematizing and publishing dishonesty in the form of your calendar, is a bad strategy long term and could potential

I think giving fake reasons, which is just systematizing and publishing dishonesty in the form of your calendar, is a bad strategy long term and could potentially have a serious impact on your reputation. A generic, nondescript "Do Not Book" should be sufficient. If you feel the need to make up fake meeting titles then there is some broader issue that should be addressed.

frankgrecojr 4y ago
I agree. However, if you're going to do Do Not Book, I'd say auto-decline in better. As I say in the blog, I usually see the decline and reach out to book a better time.
- anyfoo 4y ago
  Yeah, if I want to join it's easy to say "sorry can't make it there, but I'd like to join, can we reschedule?" Sure that's annoying to the organizer, but everyone understands that finding a time where everyone is available is annoying and hard. If it's really hard to reschedule, you'll find some solution. "Sorry I can't, how about xyz attends and you get together after?" It's really not that hard.
joegahona 4y ago
I'm being hyperbolic and trying to add levity. My broader point is that I've experienced -- first-hand -- that some people don't respect "Focus Time" as a legit reason to miss _their_ meeting and inconvenience them to find a different time. They might not schedule over it, but they'll slack and ask you if you can join anyway, creating more speed bumps and awkward conversations. People generally don't slack you to ask "Can you miss your Vendor Review to come to our Marketing Brainstorm?" You don't have to go full-on deceptive and make up fake meeting names -- that was a bit of humor -- someone else on this thread suggested "Unavailable," which is probably equally effective.
rmbyrro 4y ago
I don't think it's dishonest. The person is just communicating they have that time booked. If it takes a different form for people to respect that, so be it. The content is the same and truthful: that time is blocked.

frankgrecojr 4y ago

I agree. However, if you're going to do Do Not Book, I'd say auto-decline in better. As I say in the blog, I usually see the decline and reach out to book a better time.

anyfoo 4y ago
Yeah, if I want to join it's easy to say "sorry can't make it there, but I'd like to join, can we reschedule?" Sure that's annoying to the organizer, but everyone understands that finding a time where everyone is available is annoying and hard. If it's really hard to reschedule, you'll find some solution. "Sorry I can't, how about xyz attends and you get together after?" It's really not that hard.

joegahona 4y ago

I'm being hyperbolic and trying to add levity. My broader point is that I've experienced -- first-hand -- that some people don't respect "Focus Time" as a legit reason to miss _their_ meeting and inconvenience them to find a different time. They might not schedule over it, but they'll slack and ask you if you can join anyway, creating more speed bumps and awkward conversations. People generally don't slack you to ask "Can you miss your Vendor Review to come to our Marketing Brainstorm?" You don't have to go full-on deceptive and make up fake meeting names -- that was a bit of humor -- someone else on this thread suggested "Unavailable," which is probably equally effective.

rmbyrro 4y ago

I don't think it's dishonest. The person is just communicating they have that time booked. If it takes a different form for people to respect that, so be it. The content is the same and truthful: that time is blocked.